Label dispensing device



Feb. 26, 1957 J. s. GASSAWAY 1 2,782,961

LABEL DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JAMES 6. GASSAWAV A T TO/PNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 10, 1955 INVENTOR. JAMES S. GASSA WAY ATTORNEYS United States Patent LABEL DISPENSING DEVICE James S. Gassaway, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Avery Adhesive Label Corp., Monrovia, Cali, a corporation of California Application November 10, 1955, Serial No. 546,103

8 Claims. (Cl. 221-73) This application relates to .a Label Dispensing Device. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for automatically dispensing labels of the pressure-sensitive type.

The term pressure-sensitive labels relates to labels having a coating of pressure-sensitive adhesive for atfixing them where desired. This type of label necessarily is carried on a backing sheet until it is to be used.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a novel and improved means for automatically dispensing such labels by partially removing the labels individually from the backing sheet and presenting them in a position such that they can be readily finally removed from the backing sheet as required.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser whereinv a new label is automatically partially peeled from the backing sheet in position for removal each time the previous label is removed from such position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a control means for controlling the feed of a label backing strip having labels adhering thereto, wherein the labels are arranged successively longitudinally of the direction of movement of the strip.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser as set forth in the previous object wherein said control means comprises a microswitch and associated. mechanism, which is sensitive to determine the presence or absence of a label on the surface of the backing sheet thereunder.

A preferred form of the invention is described in the following detailed specification, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a dispensing device embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale and illustrating the details of the microswitch assembly.

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are views similar to that shown in Fig. 2 and illustrate the action of the microswitch assembly during various portions of the machine cycle.

Referring now to the drawings wherein similar reference numerals are used to denote the same elements throughout the various views shown, the dispensing device generally indicated 18 comprises a housing 11 divided into upper and lower sections, respectively, by a horizontal partition 12. A well 13 is provided adjacent the rear of the dispenser to receive a supply of labels on a backing strip 15 in roll form as indicated at 14. The backing strip 15, having labels 16 on the upper surface thereof, extends from the roll 14 along the upper surface of the partition 12, around the sharp label peeling edge 17 located at the forward end thereof, and is threaded between a drive roller assembly comprising three rollers 18, 19 and 20. The rollers 18 and 20 are rotatably supported in the housing 11 and the roller 18 is adapted to be driven by a motor 21 by means of a chain drive indicated at 22. The roller 19 is rotatably mounted .on a hinge structure 23 position shown in Fig. 3

2 hinged to the housing 11 by a pivot pin 24. The hinge structure 23 is adapted to be pivoted about the pin 24 to move the roller 19 into and out of engagement with the rollers 18 and 20 to facilitate the threading of the backing strip 15 therethrough. A microswitch assembly, indicated generally at 25, controls the actuation of the motor 21.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 2, the microswitch assembly 25 comprises a housing 26 pivotally mounted on a shaft 27 fixed to the dispenser housing 11. The housing 26 is provided with a toe portion 28 adapted to rest on the upper surface of the backing strip 15 or the labels 16 thereon immediately adjacent to but rearwardly of the peeling edge 17. A microswitch 29 is mounted within the housing 26 for longitudinal movement with respect to the housing on suitable guides (not shown). A differential screw assembly 30 is fixed to the microswitch 29 and extends through the housing 26. A thumb wheel 31 on the differential screw assembly 30 permits adjustment of the microswitch 29 relative to the housing 26. A bottom plate 32 is fixed to the housing 26. The forward end of the bottom plate 32 terminates at a point spaced from the toe 28 of the housing 26.

A flexible member 33 of spring steel, beryllium copper, or similar thin, flexible material, is fixed to the bottom plate 32 and extends forwardly therefrom to pivotally support a switch-actuating member 34 in the space between the forward end of the bottom plate 32 and the toe 28. The switch-actuating member is adapted to pivot relative to the housing 26 about the forward end of the bottom plate 32 and is provided with a toe 35 adapted to rest on the upper surface of the backing strip 15 or labels 16 adjacent to but rearwardly of the toe 28 on the housing 26.

Referring now to the schematic wiring diagram shown in Fig. 3, one side of the microswitch 29 is connected to one side of the low voltage winding of a transformer 36. The other side of the microswitch 29 is connected to one side of the coil 37 of a solenoid switch 38. The other side of the coil 37 is connected to the other side of the low voltage winding of the transformer 36. The high voltage side of the transformer 36 is connected to the line voltage by a pair of conductors 39 and 40. The motor 21 is connected to the line voltage by a circuit including the solenoid switch 38 and a manual on-ofi switch 41 connected in series. An indicator light 42 is connected to show when the manual switch 41 is in its on position.

At the start of a cycle of the dispenser, the various elements of the microswitch assembly 25 are in the positions illustrated in Fig. 3. The microswitch 29 is open and so is the solenoid switch 38. The manual switch 41 is closed and the dispenser is ready to operate. When the label 16 under the toe 28 is removed, the elements move to the position illustrated in Fig. 4, thus closing the microswitch 29 to actuate the solenoid switch 38 to energize the motor 21. The motor 21 then drives the feed roller 18 to move the strip 15 in the direction indicated by the arrow. When the next label 16 strikes the toe 35 on the switch actuator 34, the elements are moved to the position illustrated in Fig. 5. In this position the microswitch is still actuated and the drive continues. Fig. 6 illustrates the position of the elements just prior to the end of the feed ccyle. As soon as the rear edge of the label 16 passes the toe 35 of the switch actuator 34, the switch actuator drops relative to the housing 26 to the and the motor 21 stops.

From the foregoing description of the operation, it may be seen that the motor drive is actuated at all times when the toe 35 of the switch actuator 34 is at the same level with or above the toe 28 on the housing 26, and that the motor drive ceases only when the toe 28 is supported by a label and the toe 35 is not.

' Whil lhavesh vn.anddescribe th preterrediformnf jacentitsrear edge,above the wehsolhat its forward edge rests on, theweb, aswitchaetuator mountedinsaid switchholding housing formovement with respect -thereto,. the forvgardedge of said switch actuator restin z'onzsaid web adjacent I to but rearwardly .of :the forward-sedge of said hqusingand ;a switch'mounted insaid. housing-and adapted to be actuated byzsaidswitchi actuator whenever the *forwardedge of said switch actuator is;at the. same level ,with or;abo,ve;theforwardedge of said housing.

,2; A control switch responsive-to differences iinelevationyofareas on a traveling web,.a,= surface underlying the web, .;a -switch-holdin g housing pivotallymounted adjacent its rear edge above the web so that its forward edge restson the web, a switch actuatormounted insaidswitchholding housing for pivotal movement ,withrespect thereto,;the forward edge of said switch actuatorresting. on said .web adjacent to but rearwardlycf the forward edge of said housing, .and a switch mounted in said housing and adapted to be actuatedby said switchactuator wheneventhe forward edge of said switch actuator-.isatathe same level with or above the forwardedge of saidhousing.

3. A-lcontrol switchresponsive to differencesin'elevation ,-of ar eas on a traveling web, a surface underlyingthe web, a switch-holding. housing pivotally mounted adjacent its rear edge above the web so that its forward edgerests on the web, a switch actuator mounted in said switchholding housing for pivotal movement withrespect thereto, the'forward edge of said switch actuator restingon said web adjacent .to but rearwardly of the forward edge .of said housing, and a normally open switch mounted in said housing and adapted to be actuated by said switch. actuator whenever the forward edge of said switch actuator is at the same level with or above the forward edge of said housing.

4; A control switch responsive to differences in elevation of areas on a traveling web, a surface underlying the web,,a switch-holdinghousiug pivotallyrnounted.adjacent its ,rear edge abo e the web so thatits forward edge rests on the web, a switch actuator mounted in said switchholding-housin g for pivotal movement withrespect thereto, the forward edge of said switch actuator restiugon said web adjacent to butrearwardly of theforward edge ofsaid housing, anormally open switchmounted insaid housing and adaptedto be actuated by said switch actuator whenever the forward .edge of said switch actuator is at .the sarnelevel with or above the forward edge of said housing, and means for adjusting the position of said switch relative't'o said housing.

5. In a device fordispensing labels carried bya rolled web, a housing having a recessed top forming a receptacle for a roll of labels, means mounted in said housing for feeding :the labels successively to dispensing position, a generally horizontal surface over which said web and labels pass when moved toward said dispensing position, means for controlling said feeding means comprising a switch-holding housing pivotallymounted adjacent its rear edge above the web so that its forward edge rests on the web, a switch actuator mountedin said switch-holding housing for movement with respect thereto, the forward edge of said switch actuator resting on said web adjacent to but rearwardly of the forward edge of said housing, and a switch mounted in said housing and adapted to 'be actuated by said switch actuator-whenever the forward edge of said switch actuatoris atthe same level with or above the forward edge of said housing.

6. In a deVice for-dispensing labels carried 'by a'rolled web, a housinghaving a recessed top-forminga receptacle for a roll of labels, means mounted in said housingfor feeding ;the labels successively to dispensing position, a generally horizontal surface over which said web and labels pass whenmoved toward said dispensing position, means for controlling said feeding means comprising a switch-holding housing pivotally mounted adjacent its rear edge above the web so that its forward edge rests on .the web, a switch actuator mounted in said switch h'o'lding. housing for'pivotal movement with respect thereto, "the forward edge 'ofsaid switch actuator resting on said web adjacent to but rearwardly of the forward edge of said housing; and aswitch mounted in said housing and adapted tobe actuated by said switch actuator whenever the forward edge ofsaid switch actuator is at'the samelevel with or above theforward edge of said housing.

7. In a device for-dispensing labels carried by a rolled web, ahousing having a recessed top'fo-rminga-receptacle for a roll-ofla'bcls, means mounted in said housing "for feeding :the labels successively to dispensing position, a generally horizontal surface over which said web and labels pass when moved toward said dispensing position, means for controlling said-feeding means comprising a switch-holdinghousingpivotallymounted adjacentits rear edge above the web'so that its forward edge rests on'the web, a switch actuator mounted in said switch-holding housing for pivotal movement with respect thereto, the forward edge of said switch actuator resting on said'web adjacent -to *but rearwardly of the forward edge of said housing, and a normally open switch'moun'ted in "said housing and adapted to be actuated by said switch'actuator whenever the forward edge of said switch actuatoris at the same level with or above the forward edge of said housing.

8. In a device'for dispensing labels carried by a rolled web, a'housing having arecessed top forming'a receptacle for a roll of labels, means mounted in said housing for feeding the labels successively to dispensing position, a generally horizontal-surface over which said web and labels pass when moved toward said dispensing position; means for controlling said feeding means comprising a switch-holding housing pivotally mounted adjacent its rear edge above the web sothat its forward edge rests on the web, a switch actuator mounted in said switch-holding housing for pivotal movement with respect thereto, the forward edge of said switch actuator resting on said web adjacent *to but 'rearwardly of the forward edge of said housing, a normally open switch mounted in said housing and adapted to be actuated by said switch actuator whenever the forward edge of said switch actuator is at the same level with or above the forward edge of 'said housing, and means for adjusting the position of saidswitch relative to said housing.

No references cited; 

